"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of Netflix and off various columns highlighting new movies as well.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Actors: Robert De
Niro, John Travolta, Milo Ventimiglia, Elizabeth Olin

Ben is an American vet with some severe psychological issues
stemming from his deployment in the Bosnian War. In an attempt to clear his
mind, he spends his days living in a little shack out in the wilderness, about
as far away from people as he can get. When a tourist arrives in his life, he’s
forced to a place where he can no longer forget the past as he’s thrust into a
new battle.

I have no doubt that this movie was made simply as a ploy to
pit two big names against each other. They are two titans of the industry and
making a movie like this starring both of them is like a magnet for die-hard
fans of either of them. The only problem with it is that it’s easy for the
director and writer to feel as though they have to do less work because the
actors are certainly going to pick up the slack. I’m happy to report that’s not
the case here.

“Killing Season,” was amazing. It was brilliantly written
and, despite a few less than savory direction and effects moments, it was easy
to watch and get engulfed in. It avoided the issues that some movies run into
when it portrays only a couple of actors and the movie wound up more than
enjoyable because of that.

I particularly liked the way it ended, though I will admit
that some of the rest of the movie was predictable.

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.9/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 10%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 29%

Trust-the-Dice Score – 4/5

P.S. Nicolas Cage was originally supposed to play the part
of Ben. Robert De Niro was a good replacement.

Bethany is the product of bitterly divorced parents. Under
the care of her ridiculously overbearing mother, she has learned plenty of
history but barely anything about the present-day world or socialization in
general. Armed with no training outside of her home-schooling, Bethany leaps into
the real world and just hopes she can learn to tread water.

Although the acting was relatively spectacular, I found “Sassy
Pants” to be mediocre. There was a lot of cringing as I watched Ashley Rickards’
character, Bethany, get herself into more and more trouble. There were also a
few laughs, usually dealing with Haley Joel Osment’s character, Chip. Other
than that, I found myself unimpressed.

The story is something I should have gotten into. I usually
love that in depth look into the teenage psyche, especially when the
environmental norms are messed around with. Something just felt off about this
one. Like the director took a great idea that should have been off the beaten
path and then tried to force it onto a road commonly traveled. Maybe it didn’t
go far enough, maybe it just didn’t hit all the areas I think it should have;
to be honest the larger problem with this film escapes my descriptive ability.

“Sassy Pants” is a cute movie, but it lacks that certain
something that could have made it really good.

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.2/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 50%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 49%

Trust-the-Dice Score – 2.5/5

The Random Rating:
PG-13 – for sex references and suggestive humor

P.S. Based on a short film titled: “Boutonniere” (by the
same director/writer)

Ellie and her best friend Corrie decide to take a trip to
the bush for a weekend camping trip. While there, they experience some light
hearted bonding with friends and a great chance to relax. When they get home,
they find something is off. All their families are gone and soldiers are
parading through the streets.

This movie was based on the first book of the “Tomorrow
Series,” written by John Marsden. Since the book was published in Australia in
1993 (1995 in the US), I think it’s safe to say that the series was likely
inspired by the 1984 version of “Red Dawn.” It’s easy to pick out the various
parallels between the two, but it’s also easy to pick out the differences.
Despite the R rating, it’s obvious that this version of the story is geared
toward teens where “Red Dawn,” though it showcased teens, was geared more
toward adults.

In “Tomorrow, When the War Began,” the script not only goes
about putting the audience in the middle of World War III, but it gives a
somewhat accurate portrayal of how teenagers would react on a psychological
level; considering not only the trauma aspect, but the original caste,
reputation and status of them and their families.

I do like “Red Dawn” better, but not by a lot. This movie
felt honest, it had better graphics than I expected and I really enjoyed the
script. Even though the characters were somewhat cookie cutter in their
stereotypes, they also had depth and originality beneath it all.

This film was the highest grossing film in Australia the
year it came out, but didn’t quite find any success overseas. To be honest, I
would look to the reboot of “Red Dawn” for the answer to why. Although “Tomorrow,
When the War Began” came out in Australia in 2010, it wasn’t set to come out in
the U.S. until 2012 – the same year the reboot came out for “Red Dawn.” It was
a case of bad timing by the production company and the director. A couple years
earlier or later and this movie could have blown up. Coming out in the same
year makes this movie feel like a poor attempt at a copy, which is a shame.

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 4.3/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 64%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 58%

Trust-the-Dice Score – 4.5/5

P.S. There are seven books in the “Tomorrow Series.” Those
are: “Tomorrow, When the War Began,” “The Dead of the Night,” “The Third Day,
the Frost,” “Darkness, Be My Friend,” “Burning for Revenge,” “The Night is for
Hunting,” and “The Other Side of Dawn.” Unfortunately, due to the production
company falling apart, according to Director Stuart Beattie, we will never see
movie adaptations for the rest of the series.